Brooklyn Today October 23: No Phone Call From Trump for Family of Dead Soldier

Brooklyn Daily Eagle

THE LEDE: Happy Monday, Brooklyn! The Pierhouse saga continues, orange is the new black in Dyker Heights, and Red Hook overtakes DUMBO as the borough’s priciest ’hood. Plus, Trump fails to call the family of a dead soldier, a study reveals alcohol helps you speak foreign languages better, and we explore an exotic-game ranch in Texas. Finally, an Ohio woman gives a xanax to her toddler, a transgender playmate will appear in Playboy, and wish a happy birthday to Cosmos great Pele!

~SAVE THE VIEW GOES TO COURT: A community group fighting to preserve the view of the Brooklyn Bridge from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade presented their last, best arguments before the Appellate Court in Brooklynon Friday. Save The View Now, headed by Heights resident Steven Guterman, is hoping to reverse a decision issued in 2016 by state Supreme Court Justice Lawrence Knipel siding with the developers of the bulky Pierhouse hotel/residential complex in Brooklyn Bridge Park. The complex is 30 feet taller than the 100 foot height limit agreed to after lengthy negotiations with the community in 2005. At issue is whether the park and developers broke their promises to the community — but the outcome may depend on who knew the limit was breached and when, and whether or not the group’s lawsuit was filed within the short timeline allowed in lawsuits against the city. The building now blocks iconic views of parts of the Brooklyn Bridge as seen from the Promenade. (via the Brooklyn Daily Eagle)

~RED HOOK REACHES PRICIEST HOOD IN BROOKLYN: The “up and coming” waterfront neighborhood of Red Hook stole DUMBO’s spot on top as the priciest neighborhood in Brooklyn. The transit-neglected neighborhood’s average sales price came in at $1.92 million for seven transactions that went through the last quarter, kicking DUMBO’s $1.585 average to the side. Citywide, Red Hook came in as the 8th most expensive neighborhood. Since the area was ravished by Hurricane Sandy, a number of luxury projects have come up in its rebuild. For example, the 22-townhouse King and Sullivan townhomes, which has four homes currently listed from $3.08 to $3.41 million. “Red Hook is no longer an afterthought,” said real estate broker Chris Sheller. “A lot of people are seeing that there is something unique and special in Red Hook that a lot of people who’ve lived there a long time thought was their little secret.” (via DNAinfo)

~ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK IN BROOKLYN: It’s that time of the year when stoops and facades are adorned with pumpkins and all sorts of Halloween oddities, foreshadowing Halloween night. It is expected this year that Americans will spend a record $9.1 billion on Halloween, of which $2.7 billion is expected to be spent on decorations, according to the National Retail Federation’s annual survey. A walk through Dyker Heights, a neighborhood also known for its Christmas decorations, brings the figures to reality and shows the importance the holiday holds for some people. (via the Brooklyn Daily Eagle)

~NO PHONE CALL FROM TRUMP FOR FAMILY OF DEAD SOLDIER:Despite President Trump’s statement, “I think I’ve called every family of someone who’s died,” a Brooklyn father called out the president for not making a call after his son died in the Army. Uvince Brooks said he hasn’t received anything from the White House since his 30-year-old son, Roshain Brooks died Aug. 13 in an artillery blast. “This guy is a liar,” the father said of Trump. “When I heard what he said, it got me so mad. I called my daughter and said, ‘Can you teach me to tweet? I wanna tweet at Trump.’ That’s the only way to reach him.” The father also said Trump’s boasting disrespected relatives of the slain Army Sgt. La David Johnson, who was killed Oct. 4 with three other American soldiers in Niger. (via NYDN)

NATIONAL BULLETIN: An Ohio woman gets arrested for giving a xanax to her toddler...There's a third option besides burial and cremation, and it's growing in popularity...And Playboy will feature its first-ever transgender playmate in its November issue. (via Time, NYT and USA Today)FOREIGN FLASH: Canada, once a safe haven for refugees, is struggling with abacklog of cases...The traditional British pub is on its way out...And thedeath toll in Puerto Rico from Hurricane Maria rises to 49. (via NYT, USA Today and U.S. News)

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ROYAL WATCH: Here are six things that Prince Harry and his girlfriend Meghan Markle can’t do, according to royal rules. (Harper’s Bazaar Australia)

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BROOKLYN TONIGHT

8:00AM - 10:00PM — What Is It, Then, Between Us at BRIC Cafe. Details.

12:00PM— Who Will Lead Us: Hasidic Dynasties in America at 92nd Street Y.Details.